Chapter 107 Find Culprit

Chapter 107 Find Culprit
Roman

Ivan was the one who betrayed us. I can't say I'm surprised.

Leo continues his story, telling us how he kidnapped my daughter. His men were waiting at the mall for Dane, who handed them the baby. Then they left together in the van.

“Where is Dane now?” I ask.

“Dead,” Leo answers flatly.

I sighed softly, feeling the pain of losing my chance to get revenge and make him suffer.

“Who killed him?”

“The same man who has your daughter,” he tells me. “He stole the van. Killed all the men and took her.”

My heart races in my chest.

“Enough of the vague details,” I growl, leaning forward and grabbing his chest. “Who has my daughter?”

“Jack,” he breathes. “Jack has it.”

I’m about to ask him who the hell he is when the phone starts ringing. Tony hands it to me. I glance at the restricted ID number flashing on the screen. One glance at Michael, and he’s pulled out his laptop. He sits down, and I’m sure he’s getting ready to trace the number as I answer.

“Hello?”

“Roman De Luca,” a strange voice says. “This is Jack.”

Two minutes earlier, I’d never heard that name in my life. Now, the mere mention of it makes me furious.

“I don’t know who the hell you are, but if there’s not a single strand of hair on my daughter’s head, I’ll…”

“Enough with the threats,” he interrupts, sounding bored.

My hand tightens around the phone.

“I’m not going to hurt your daughter. In fact, I saved her,” he says flippantly.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Look,” he says. “You and I want the same thing.”

“I seriously doubt that. Because right now, all I want is my daughter back and your head on a spike.”

He pauses.

“Oh. Okay, I want one of those things. Guess which one.” I let out an exasperated sigh. Who the hell is this guy? Tony looks at me and gestures for me to put the phone on speaker. I do so immediately.

“Can’t guess?” he asks with a sigh. “Okay, I’ll tell you. I also want your daughter back safely with you. In fact, you should be grateful to me. I saved her from my stupid uncle and all his ridiculous plans for her. He was never particularly bright, but I can’t believe he actually kidnapped a child. And not just any child. The don’s daughter. Stupid.”

My jaw clenches.

“From where I stand, it looks like you’re making the same mistake.”

“Oh, no, I’m not. As I said, we want the same thing. Your daughter will come back to you and…”

For some insane reason, he pauses. I look at Michael. His grim expression is all I need to know that he hasn’t been able to locate Jack.

“And?” I prompt.

“I want my uncle dead.”

My eyes turn to Tony, who looks at me with the same confusion. Seriously, what the hell is going on?

“You must be really confused right now,” he drawls. “I wonder what's going on. Don't worry, I won't bore you with the tedious politics of Russell. All you need to know is that my uncle kidnapped your daughter, I rescued her, and she's with me now. I want you to take revenge and kill him. Do it quickly. He may be a little stupid, but he doesn't deserve to suffer too much.”

I decide to focus on the only part of his statement that really concerns me.

“You'll return my daughter? Is that all you demand?”

“Yes. And a ceasefire. I'm not interested in a gang war with your family. In fact, I think we're better off as allies. I'd like to discuss the terms of our cooperation with you. Whenever you're ready.”

"Who the hell are you to decide that?"

"Don Russell," he says confidently. "Of course, as soon as you kill my uncle. Tick-tock, Roman."

I run a hand through my hair. I don't really have much of a choice. Although it does hurt a little to follow the instructions of a madman.

"Okay," I manage. "But why the hell do you want me to kill your uncle?"

"Come on, we both know he's already dead, so why drag it out. Don't let the old man suffer any longer, just get it over with and be done with it."

"And you'll let my daughter go?" I ask.

“Safe and sound,” he replies. “Honestly, she's the most charming creature I've ever seen. Call me when you're done. I'll text you my location so you can come get her.”

Fucking weirdo.

He hangs up, and tension tightens my neck as I turn it to the side. Tony looks at me, anger swirling across his face.

“We're really going to do this, what that psycho suggested?”

“Yeah,” I say simply. “If we want Cassie back, we’ll do exactly what he asked.”

I don’t say another word as I approach Leo, who seems resigned to his fate. He has a lot to say as I point the gun at his chest.

“Tell Jack he’s a fucking bastard.”

These are his last words as I shoot him with my next breath, and his chest freezes. A chill runs through the air. I take pictures of his body, my hands shaking slightly. I just want my girl back in my arms.

I call Enzo, and he doesn’t answer, but a few seconds later, he sends me an address. The three of us run out as soon as he does. Tony breaks several speed limits and runs at least three red lights while driving.

We arrive at the scene within minutes. Our guns are drawn as we approach what looks like an ordinary house in a perfectly normal neighborhood. As I go to kick the door down, it opens, and a man is standing in the doorway.

Reddish-brown hair, light blue eyes. He looks to be about six feet tall and about my age. But none of that matters to me because he's holding a small child.

The man, who I assume is Jack, rolls his eyes.

“The guns are unnecessary. What if my neighbors see?” he says with a quiet sigh. “Although here she is. Safe and sound.”

I practically rip my daughter out of his arms, clutching her to my chest. My gaze slides over her face, and I breathe a sigh of relief when her blue eyes look at me. She’s okay. She’s okay. I repeat the words over and over in my head.

Thank God.

Tony and Michael close in on me, their guns still pointed at Jack.

He lets out a soft whistle. “Call them off, Roman.”

My head snaps up as I look at Jack.

“Why the hell would I do that?”

“Because I want us to be friends,” he says, his bored tone at odds with what he’s saying.

“You kidnapped my daughter.”

He lets out another long-suffering sigh.

“How many times do I have to tell you this? My uncle kidnapped your daughter. I saved her. She’s literally safe in your arms right now. I mean, you’re in no harm’s way.”